What does "sperm" mean?
The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a spermatozoon.
Sperm
/spɜɹm/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a spermatozoon.
- Grammar: sperm is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: sperm cell, act of love, adultery, androcyte.
- Useful contrasts: egg, eggs, oocyte.
- Usage evidence: The sperm whale can dive to a depth of 1,000 meters.
How to use "sperm"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sperm" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sperm" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sperm" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sperm" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sperm" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "sperm cell" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sperm", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a spermatozoon. countable
"In the Fall into the division of labor, Levi-Strauss sees the great hunters trading women to create the exogamous bonds of one hunting band with another. The egg is, but the sperm does. The tiny sperm may be furious in its activity, but its highway to the egg is paved by the alkaline trail set down by the Great Mother."
- 2 the male reproductive cell; the male gamete wordnet
- 3 Semen; the generative substance of male animals. slang, uncountable
"Other Nations there are, that never have use of fire; Others, whose sperme is of a blacke colour."
- 4 Sperm oil; whale oil from a sperm whale; spermaceti. countable, uncountable
"Holding his candle so that he could read the coffin plates, and so holding it that the sperm dropped in white patches which congealed as they touched the metal, he made assurance of Lucy’s coffin."
Verb
- 1 To ejaculate. intransitive, slang, vulgar
- 2 To ejaculate on or into. slang, transitive, vulgar
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The sperm whale can dive to a depth of 1,000 meters."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sperm"?
Common synonyms include: sperm cell, act of love, adultery, androcyte, antheridium, antherozoid.
How do you use "sperm" in a sentence?
The sperm whale can dive to a depth of 1,000 meters.
How do you pronounce "sperm"?
Pronounced /spɜɹm/.
Etymology
From Middle English sperme, from Latin sperma, from Ancient Greek σπέρμα (spérma, “seed, semen”). Compare also Old French esperme, sparme.